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4 Non-Annoying Ways to Follow Up After an Interview

You landed the interview, and as far as you’re concerned? You nailed that sucker.

Or, you met with a recruiter who seemed super interested and incredibly connected with the exact kinds of companies for whom you want to work.

She said, “Keep in touch!”

Awesome. But a couple of weeks have gone by and nothing’s happened. So what do you do now? Can you follow up with her without reeking of desperation or looking like a pest?

This topic freaks a lot of job seekers out. Many people, even when they know they truly lit the interview on fire, would rather do absolutely nothing than risk looking stupid or making the wrong follow-up move.

But that’s what’s stupid. Because staying top of mind is incredibly important—and not just for the job at hand. Even if you’re not the right candidate for a particular position (or the position is filled before you can really show the company your amazingness), wowing the right decision maker—a recruiter, an HR person, or a hiring manager—can be incredibly valuable down the line.

With that in mind, here are a few ways you can ease the “staying in touch” part of the job search equation:

1. Ask About Next Steps (Before You Leave the Interview)

As a recruiter, it stuns me that so few people end the conversation with this question. But if you ask the interviewer what happens next, you know exactly when it’s acceptable to follow up. If the she says she’ll be contacting candidates within a week, and it’s day 9? It’s completely OK to touch base and remind her of the timetable she gave you. Don’t be pushy, but a quick note is perfect:

“Hi Sue—I hope you’re having a great week. You mentioned that your team would be finalizing a hiring decision on the Marketing Manager position this week. I’m eager to hear when you have an update. And certainly, if I may provide any additional information to support your decision-making process, please let me know!”

2. Get That Thank-You Note Out (With Lightning Speed)

Thank-you notes matter: They give you a terrific opportunity to follow up with the decision-maker right away. I encourage job seekers to get thank-you notes out (to each individual they’ve met in the interview process) immediately after the interview. Same day. From your laptop in the parking lot, if you really want to wow them.

Use this moment to affirm to the hiring manager that you’re on top of things and would bring a ton of value into the position for which you’re interviewing. Make it easy for them to decide on you.

3. Ask if You Can Connect via LinkedIn (Then Do)

Hey, this is a potential long-term professional relationship in the making. So it’s perfectly appropriate to connect on LinkedIn after the interview. That said—you don’t want to ambush anyone with your request, or leave the decision-maker wondering what your motives are (and please—no generic connection requests!). Instead, you should create a logical reason for connecting, then ask if she’s OK with it while you’re at the interview.

“You want to start dragon boat racing? I’d love to introduce you to my former colleague. He leads a dragon boat team right here in Portland.”

Or maybe, “I read a New York Times article about how Coca-ColaCoca-Cola is employing brand strategy in this same way. Did you see it? I’ll be happy to forward it to you.”

There’s your in. And once you’re in? You can build a long-term professional relationship with that person, whether you end up landing the job or not.

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I wonder if it’s not that people are so bad at number 4 (excluding keeping in touch for long-term networking purposes), but that they can see the writing on the wall when it comes to a protracted hiring process. If the company hasn’t followed up according to the timeline they gave you, you’ve checked in and they put you off, I think a lot of people assume that A) this company doesn’t have its HR act together B) they’re not serious about staffing this position or C) I didn’t get the job, but they’re too slack to bother informing me. I don’t blame folks for throwing in the towel on follow-ups at that point.

The true art is in using this periodic follow-up method throughout one’s career. If you can stay top of mind with players working at the companies you admire, and in your specific industry? You’re at the best advantage throughout your career.

People will think of you when future opportunities come up, people will come to you for your expertise. They will appreciate that you’re a giving, engaged and connected human being.

Job seekers should be both short-sighted (what do I want/need right now?) and far-sighted (what could happen down the road if I play this right?) in their job search networking efforts. Absolutely.

I am compelled to agree with J. Maureen on this one. The job market is tough and all of us that are unemployed are aware of this fact. I have missed a job opportunity by the slightest technicality, even missing a job opp by 3 mere minutes. Its quite common for one to never get a response from the company if you were not chosen. ( The few times I have gotten a letter like that it was a simple “thanks but no thanks”, lacking feedback into what I came up short on.) Writing a follow up is hard because so many companies are more likely to assume much about a candidate and asking little. So, even if your followup is professional and informative, all too often these companies write you off, assuming that you just lack the ability to take the hint. This of course means that its quite the risk to send a followup. #4 might really be considered over-the-top at this point

Or…..at then end of the interview when the Interviewer asks “do you have any questions” you say YES ” on a scale of 1-10 how did i do?” It’s highly unlikely they will avoid to answer the question as it’s different to “ am i hired?”

Whatever the number is accept it and ask “What do i need to make it 10?”

If the things you need are obviously off your chart, you know where you stand. When the things you need are easy to get, you know you have a strong chance of being accepted.

At the end of the interview I would not feel comfortable asking to be rated on a scale of 1-10 (how did I do) type of scenario. However, if the interview went well, and it seemed like a good fit all the way around, I usually asked if the interviewer(s) felt there was any reason why I wouldn’t be considered a good candidate for the position.

To JMH’ s point, HR is often outsourced or over extended aka ‘no phone calls please’ or the internal process is so slow and burdensome that requisitions have to be re-opened but “C” is personally devasting.

While the article makes complete common sense (a seemingly by-gone intellect) it’s hard to resist waiting by the phone for the bad boyfriend to call.

I think those are spot on and by the sound of it I have been doing it right! I have one question about the thank you note – don’t you think it’s a little too pushy to send it right after the interview? Plus they just met you, so that thank you notes will blend together with the meeting… I send mine the morning of the next day, which I think is a good way tor refresh their memory as they are starting the new day. Thoughts?